A.J. Cole improved to 4-0 with seven strong innings versus Louisville as Syracuse took the game 5-1, the series 3-1, and held onto sole possession of first place by a game over Pawtucket. Cole scattered nine hits and walked one while striking out three. The defense turned two double plays for him while Eury Perez gunned down a runner trying to stretch a single into a double. Emmanuel Burris and Jeff Kobernus both reached base three times and swiped a bag to lead the 11-hit, five-walk attack for the Chiefs.

Another quality start, but another feeble offensive effort doomed the Senators as they dropped the series finale to the B-Mets, 3-0. James Simmons gave up all three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out a season-high of eight. The Harrisburg bullpen clamped down Binghamton for another three scoreless innings — nine and 2/3rds total for the series — but for the second straight game the lineup produced just four hits and drew but two bases-on-balls as they were shut out for the seventh time this season.

Potomac vs. Salem — PPD
Well, there will be a doubleheader on Wednesday. And Tuesday, too, as the entire weekend series between Potomac and Salem was rained out. That’ll make up two of the three games lost, which affects both C.L. playoff races as the Red Sox are still in wild-card contention, having gotten some help from a Hillcats sweep of the Dash over the weekend to knock Winston-Salem back to third place in the Southern Division’s overall standings. Lynchburg also made up a game and a half on Potomac, though they still trail in the loss column by five. Meanwhile, Myrtle Beach continues to win — seven straight — and has opened up a five-game lead in their quest to take both halves.

Hagerstown completed its four-game sweep of Kannapolis with a 5-3 win. The Suns fell behind 2-1 after four and a half, but posted a picket fence with single runs in their last four “ups” to pull away. Wander Suero started and had a shutout going until Toby Thomas took him deep for a two-run HR with one out in the 5th. Ryan Ullmann got the win in relief while David Napoli earned the save, the fourth for both, respectively. Wilman Rodriguez singled twice, scored a run, drove in a run, walked and stole a base to lead the 11-hit attack for the Suns.

Raudy Read baked the offensive cake with a three-run HR in the 3rd while Osvaldo Abreu frosted it in the 7th with a solo shot as Auburn pummeled Vermont, 10-2. Anderson Martinez evened up his won-loss mark at 1-1 with both Lake Monster runs given up on five hits and no walks while setting down two on strikes. The Doubldays totaled 11 hits with Abreu leading the way with a 4-for-4 game with three runs scored and two stolen bases.

GCL Nationals — OFF DAY
The G-Nats continue to play .500 ball with yet another 3-3 week. They’ll host the G-Mets today and Wednesday with a trip to Port St. Lucie tomorrow, then go home-away-home on Thursday through Saturday against the G-Cards.

DSL Nationals — OFF DAY
Two weeks remain in the season but the tragic number is now in single digits for both the division title and the wild-card chase. After reeling off eight straight, the D-Nats are on a two-game slide but need just five wins to surpass last season’s total of 38.

There are a lot of moving parts (Fister and Zimmermann are FA after 2015, Strasburg after 2016). While it’s hard to say what will happen, the Nationals would be well served to move Giolito to AA in 2015 and see how he does there. Cole is doing well in AAA and would probably start there in 2015 as the first callup in case of injury. AFL for Giolito seems unlikely, simply because they team has been very cautious with his innings as he comes back from TJ surgery. Treinen may well make the team in 2015, most likely in the bullpen in the “long man” role as I expect that Detwiler will be gone. With two more or less established LHP in the bullpen in Thornton and Blevins, the need for Detwiler is diminished and I think they’ll move him.

It’s hard for me to see the team trading Zimmermann in 2015 unless they get a big bat in return – because the team is in the prime part of its “window” and will be looking to maximize 2015 to the extent that they can without crippling the future. It’s hard to see them getting an offer that will make them better in 2015 than they would be by hanging onto JZim. A big bat would do that, but I also don’t really see them getting a big bat for a one year rental of a pitcher approaching free agency.

Completely agree with this comment. I’m cheered to see some Big Club influenced comments as I use this site as a way to stay a year or two ahead of most Nationals fans, and I wish more members of Nats Nation would do the same.